What is the significance of Divali for Sikhs?
The following article by Karminder Singh Dhillon (Boston), gives a perspective on Divali celebrations by Sikhs. The article is available for download here.
DIVALI AND SIKHI
By Karminder Singh Dhillon Ph.D (Boston),
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This article is inspired by the actions of some parbhandaks and sangats to celebrate Divali within the precincts of the local Gurudwara Sahib. Such celebrations range from encouraging Sikhs to bring sweets and delicacies to the Gurudwara Sahib, lighting the Gurudwara premises with oil lamps, to actually conducting full scale kirten, katha and ardas diwans in relation and in conjunction with Divali.
Some parbhandakis, parcharaks and ragees have justified such practices by quoting / singing Gurbanee, citing historical incidents that connect Divali to our Guru Sahib’s, and by pointing to the
prevailing practices relating to Divali of the Harmandar Sahib and other Takht Sahib’s.
This article thus aims to
(i) Examine the Gurbanee quotes that are said to give the spiritual nod for Divali to be
celebrated as a Sikh festival,
(ii) Examine the Divali-related Sikh historical incidents cited, and
(iii) Encourage evaluation of prevailing practices (pertaining to Divali) in the Harmandar
Sahib (Amritsar Sahib) etc.
(iv) The final part of the article will attempt to put Divali into its original and proper
perspective by tracing the origins, purpose and philosophy of the festival.
(I) DIVALI AND GURBANI. The most commonly sung and quoted Gurbani verses relating to
Divali are derived from Bhai Gurdas ji’s Var 19 Pauree 6. Sikh ragees sing this pauree and explain it as
evidence that Divali and the lighting of lamps is to be celebrated as an authentic Sikh practice. For a
full understanding, the entire pauree is quoted below. An explanation of the pauree follows.
Divali Dee Rat Deevay Baleean. Tarey Jaat Snaat Ambar Bhaleean.
Fullan Dee Bagaat, Chun Chun Chaleean. Teerath Jatee Jaat Nain Nihalean
Har Chandauree Jhaat Vasae Uchaleean. Gurmukh Sukh Fal Dat Shabad Smaleean.
Keen readers of Gurbanee know that the main message of a shabad is encapsulated in the
Rahao line. This is the generic rule of the five thousand plus shabads that are written by the Guru
Sahibs and Bhagat Sahibs in the Guru Granth Sahib (GGS). The writings of Bhai Gurdas Ji do not
follow such a practice. Bhai ji does not use Rahao in any of his 912 paurees (in 40 vaars), 672 Kabits and
3 swayeas. In all his writings, his main message is always contained in the final verse of the pauree,
kabit or swayea. The first five lines of every pauree are illustrations / explanations for the real message
which is provided in the final / concluding line.
A translation of the above pauree is as follows:
The lamps of the night of Divali eventually burn out.
The stars of the night sky stop sparkling when dawn comes.
The beauty of the orchard disappears as the flowers are picked.
The gaiety of the place of pilgrimage dies when the crowds leave.
Life- even as bestowed by God- is temporary; settled and then destructed.
Yet, the Gurmukh is blessed with the fruit of permanent joy through his Immersion in the Shabad.
The meaning of this pauree is therefore as follows:
A Gurmukh seeks bliss from the Shabad. The joy that comes from the Shabad is not as temporary as
the lamps that burn on Divali night, the star-lit night skies, and the beautiful sights of the blooming
orchard, the joyous atmosphere of the places of pilgrimages or of human life itself.
As stated above, Guru Arjan Sahib bestowed the title of Gurbanee dee Kunjee (the key to
understanding Gurbanee) to Bhai Ji’s writings. In other words, understanding Bhai Gurdas provides
one the key to unlock the treasures of the GGS. Guru Arjan Sahib recognized him as an interpreter
par excellence of Gurbanee. As is the case with all of Bhai Ji’s writings, he is extolling the Sikh to link
spiritually with the Shabad – by which he means the GGS and all the messages that are contained
therein. This pauree is written to give inspiration to the Sikh to connect with the Shabad by virtue of
the permanence of the joy that comes as a result.
Now, to use the first line of this pauree – Divalee Dee Raat Divey Baleean – as Gurbanee justification for
Sikhs to light lamps (or otherwise celebrate) the Divali night is ignorance – feigned or genuine. If
that is the case then gazing the stars (the second illustration of temporariness in line two) can also
be argued to be a call by Bhai Gurdas Ji for Sikhs to worship the planets. On the same account, then
planting orchards and going for teerath yatra or pilgrimages (as mentioned in lines 3 and 4) is also
recommended Sikh spiritual practice. Each of the four events in each of the four lines are examples /
illustrations used by Bhai Ji to make a concluding point regarding a particular characteristic
(permanence of the joy) of the Shabad. This characteristic of the Shabad is contrasted with
characteristics of the four events. Surely then, it would be highly disingenuous to suggest that the
events being contrasted are acceptable as Sikh practice.
A cursory examination of the language used by Bhai Ji in the pauree gives indication of his
emotions. Lamps are lighted. The word for lighted is Jagaeeyan. However, Bhai Ji uses the word
Baleean – meaning burned. He is saying “lamps burn away.” His emotive context is easily discerned
from here. The emotion behind “lighting” a lamp is generally positive. Lighting lamps gives one a
sense of creating light and brightness. But Bhai Ji’s emotions are concerned with the temporariness
of the act – that the lamps (no matter how many positive feelings they create) eventually burn out, or
burn to cinder, burn to darkness. Bhai Ji’s message is concerned with the final outcome – that lamps
burn out. His concern with the initial act (the lighting / Jagayean) is no more than to indicate its
temporariness. He is using this act (and others) to explain the concept of temporariness as opposed
to permanence (of the joy of the Shabad) – which is his main concern. Hence to interpret this line as
a call by Bhai Ji to Sikhs to “burn” lamps on Divali night is to miss the point all together.
It must also be pointed out that apart from singing the above pauree and interpreting it (albeit
wrongly), no ragee or parcharak has been able to find a single shabad from the 5,867 that make up the
GGS that discusses Divali. In fact the word Divali or any of its equivalents does not appear in the
GGS even once. This alone should make any Sikh wonder. Why would a Sikh related festival (if
indeed Divali was such) not be mentioned even once in the GGS? Even in this pauree of Bhai Gurdas
Ji, the issue is the burning away of lamps during the Divali night – not the celebration of Divali per
se. It therefore goes without saying that attempts by some of our ragees and parcharaks to stretch to
breaking point the meaning of this line requires nothing less than distortion.
(II) DIVALI AND SIKH HISTORICAL INCIDENTS. Two significant historical incidents are cited
by those who attempt to link Divali to Sikh history and spirituality. The first relates to what is
termed Bandee Chor Divas, (literally: prisoners release day) and is related to Sixth Guru, Guru
Hargobind Sahib. And the second is Bhai Mani Singh Ji’s martyrdom. Both need examination to
separate fact from apologetic thinking.
(i) Bandee Chor Divas. Sikhs have been told that Guru Hargobind Sahib was ordered
released from the Gwalior prison by Emperor Jahangir. Guru Sahib accepted the release
on condition that 52 other Hindu kings / princes imprisoned in the same jail be released
together with him. The Guru Sahib, upon securing the release of the kings, himself
arrived at Amritsar, and the Sikhs celebrated by doing a deep-maala (literally: rosary of
lighted lamps) display at Harmandar Sahib. This release happened on Diwali day. So on
Diwali day, Sikhs actually celebrate the release from prison of Guru Hargobind Sahib –
by lighting lamps.
Is this an accurate depiction of Sikh history and an accurate interpretation of Sikh sentiment? Or
are some Sikhs so eager to celebrate Divali, and so fervent to want to link Divali to Sikh practice
and tradition that they simply had to find or create an incident that is suggested to have
happened on or close to Diwali day, and use that as a pretext to celebrate? The following
arguments will help answer this question.
First, the euphoria of Bandee Chor – a Guru being released from prison – needs to be looked at
within the context of Sikh history. In 1521 Babur attacked Saidpur at Ahmenabad and reduced the
city to rubble. Guru Nanak Sahib, witnessing the episode of destruction went up to Babur and
critiqued him in spiritual yet stinging terms, as recorded in his Tilang Raag Shabad on page 722
Paap Kee Janj Ley Kablon Dhaeya, Joree Mangey Daan Ve Lalo
Saram Dharam Doe Chap Khaloe, Koor Firey Pardhan Vey Lalo.
Translation: Bringing the marriage party of sin, Babur has invaded from Kabul, demanding our
land as his wedding gift, O Lalo. Modesty and righteousness both have vanished, and falsehood
struts around like a leader, O Lalo.
The result of the critique was a harsh jail sentence for Guru Nanak Sahib and Bhai Mardana Ji who
were thrown into prison with thousands of others – mostly women and children meant to be sold as
slaves in Kabul. Guru Nanak Sahib gave solace to the prisoners, consoled them, and stood up to
Babur as their representative. After a discourse with Guru Nanak Sahib, and having made to realize
his folly, Babur ordered Guru Nanak Sahib released. The Guru Sahib’s condition was that he would
only accept release if each and every prisoner was released. Now the question: Why aren’t Sikhs
extolled to celebrate Guru Nanak Sahib’s Bandee Chor Divas? Why is there no Deep Maala to
commemorate this day? Because it does not coincide with Divali? Or it did not happen close
enough to Divali day? Or there was no Harmandar Sahib to be lit up with lamps then? Or simply
because this Bandee Chor provides no pretext for celebrating Divali?
The story of Guru Hargobind Sahib’s release on Diwali day deserves further examination. Given
that the 52 Kings were Hindu, their release on Diwali day is of significance to them and their
subjects. It is thus entirely possible that Jahangir – upon the persuasion of his Hindu wife – decided
to release them on a day that was auspicious to the Hindu Kings. Sikhs are told that the deep mala
was done at Harmandar Sahib upon the Guru Sahib’s arrival at Amritsar. Gwalior is in Agra – 112
miles out of Delhi. An express train journey from Delhi to Amritsar these days takes eight hours.
The mode of travel by Guru Hargobind Sahib would have been horse back, or a horse carriage.
Even if the Guru Sahib had rushed back to Amristar – without stopping to meet with any of
the sangats that would have gathered to greet him at the many villages and districts between Agra,
Delhi and Amritsar – he would have arrived four or five days if not weeks after Divali. Not meeting
with the multiple sangats en-route and rushing back to Amritsar is highly uncharacteristic of any
Guru Sahib. No Guru Sahib would leave behind sangats to rush off to Amritsar or anywhere else.
What was he rushing there for? To sit on a throne as the 53rd Hindu King? In any case, even if Guru
Sahib did rush, Guru Hargobind Sahib’s arrival would not have coincided with Divali – it would
have been off by four or five days at least.
Second, the performing of a Deep Maala itself needs examination from a Gurmat point of view.
There is no Sikh spiritual activity that resolves around the Diva (lamp). Beyond an article of
practical use (providing light), Gurbanee discounts any and all Diva related rituals. In fact Gurbanee
discards physical diva-related ritual and instead gives inner spiritual context to the lamp. On Ang
(page) 878 of GGS, in Ramkali Raag for instance we have an entire shabad devoted to the Diva by
Guru Nanak Sahib.
Shape your lamp on the wheel of good actions.
In this world and in the next, this lamp shall be with you.
Within the heart, this lamp is permanently lit.
It is not extinguished by water or wind.
Such a lamp will carry you across the water.
Wind does not shake it, or put it out. Its light reveals the Divine Throne.
The Khatrees, Brahmins, Soodras and Vaishyas cannot find its value, even by thousands of calculations.
If any of them lights such a lamp, O Nanak, he is emancipated.
Gurbanee accords similar treatment to another practice involving the Diva namely the aartee.
Physical aartee as a ritual is discouraged and Gurbanee provides inner spiritual context to aartee in
the shabad Gagan Mei Thaal Rav Chand Deepak Baney (Dhnasree First Guru).
Upon that cosmic plate of the sky, the sun and the moon are the lamps.
The stars and their orbs are the studded pearls.
The fragrance of sandalwood in the air is the temple incense, and the wind is the fan.
All the plants of the world are the altar flowers in offering to You, O Luminous Lord.
What a beautiful Aartee, lamp-lit worship service this is! O Destroyer of Fear, this is Your Ceremony of
Light.
Given that these gurbanee injuctions already existed, it is thus unlikely that Sikhs would have
indulged in a mass lamp lighting ritual or deep mala to welcome their Guru Sahib. It is even more
unlikely that the Guru Sahib would have allowed his Sikhs to indulge in a ritual that was not only
of no significance in Sikhi, but against Gurmat. It is more likely that huge numbers of Sikhs
thronged to visit him on the way from Agra to Amritsar and he had divans of kirten, katha, langgar
sewa, and parchar for weeks culminating in a grand gathering at Harmandar Sahib.
Third, if one assumes that Guru Hargobind Sahib started the practice of deep maala, in defiance of
the teachings of the first 5 Gurus Sahib, then one must look at other historical events of stature and
importance. It is worth noting that there is no record of the Sikhs having performed deep maala
when Harmandar Sahib was inaugurated, when the first parkash of the GGS was conducted, when
Akaal Takhat was installed, when Guru Hargobind Sahib intitiated his Peeri Meeri army, and or
when he returned victorious in each of the four wars he fought with local Mughals. These are all
events that happened within a 50 year span (before and after) of the sixth Guru’s release from
Gwalior. If indeed Deep Maala was an accepted practice then, it would have been done on all these
other occasions. Yet, it was not. Surely no Sikh would have trouble accepting that all of the historic
events above would be of a higher importance to the Guru Sahib when compared to his release
from prison. Why then is a lesser event being celebrated with a grand Deep Mala?
An examination of the collective mental psyche of the Sikhs at the time of their Guru Sahib’s
release will shed light on the probability of the Sikhs undertaking an exercise of lighting thousands
of lamps to celebrate Diwali. Jahangir had, on 30th May 1606, after having kept him in prison, put
to death in the most inhumane and cruel way, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs,. That this was the first
martyrdom of the Sikhs, that their peace loving and beloved Guru Sahib was the victim, and the
terrible tortures he endured had a lasting impact on the Sikh collective psyche. The Sikh psyche was
tormented and beleaguered beyond imagination. One Guru Sahib was cruelly executed; the
successor was imprisoned for one year. It is impossible to imagine that the Sikhs would have
decided to have any grand celebration (Divali or otherwise) with the cruel and inhumane death of
their Guru Sahib still fresh on their mind. It is equally impossible to imagine that Guru Hargobind
Sahib would have allowed or condoned a grand celebration to commemorate his own release from
prison. For someone who was prepared to die in battle four times with the Mugal tyrants, and for
someone to call upon his Sikhs to be ever prepared to lay down their lives for justice, being jailed
would have been as trivial as being released.
In light of the above, it is clear that the Deep Maala story is concocted as an after thought by people
eagerly seeking to provide a historical justification to link Divali to the Guru Sahib. The similarity
between the story of Guru Hargobind Sahib returning to Amritsar and that of Ram Chander
returning to Ayothya to celebrate Divali (elaborated below) is striking enough for Guru Sahib’s
Bandee Chor celebration to come across as un-imaginative, whole scale plagiarism and dull
fabrication. As is the case with most afterthoughts – they do not withstand careful scrutiny, are
shaky at best, and dubious at worst. Given that lighting lamps was the standard way of providing
light and given the huge crowds present when Guru Hargobind Sahib arrived from Gwalior, a
great many lamps may have indeed been used for their practical value. But if using many lamps
constituted Deep Maala, virtually every day before the advent of electricity would have been a Deep
Maala day at Harmandar.
(ii) Bhai Mani Singh’s Shaheedee. Sikhs are told that Bhai Sahib Ji sought to have a gathering of
Sikhs during the Divali of 1737. The local ruler agreed to not persecute the Sikhs who attended
provided Bhai ji agreed to pay a fixed amount of money. Subsequently, upon discovering that the
ruler had devised a plan to attack the sangat, Bhai ji sent notices for the Sikhs to not attend this
function. There was thus no function and Bhai ji refused to pay the agreed amount to the ruler. He
refused to allow the existing golak of the Guru Ghar to settle the amount due. As a result, Bhai ji was
cut up limb by limb.
This incident is used to portray the fact that Sikhs did celebrate Divali as a religious function
because that is what this great Shaheed intended to do. But was that the intention – to celebrate
Divali as a Sikh religious function? Or was Bhai ji merely using the occasion to gather Sikhs to
conduct a spiritual diwan that had everything to do with Sikhi (Kirten, Gurbani recitation, langgar
sewa etc) and nothing to do with Divali per se? In any case, the function was never held. More
importantly, the outcome of the Divali of 1737 was the cruel limb by limb mutilation of a brave,
noble, bright and principled jewel of the Sikh community. Only one thing can be worse than this
cruel annihilation of a man of God. That would be to use his name, his sacrifice, and his loss of life
to sanction us Sikhs to do deep malas, distribute sweets and to celebrate this day. And those who are
most guilty of such gross deviation are the present day guardians of the Harmandar Sahib. What is
most disturbing to the Sikh psyche is the fact that the roots of this great martyrdom of a great Bhram
Gyani panth rattan soul lay in his desire to maintain the sanctity and dignity of Harmandar
Sahib. But now the guardians of the same Harmandar Sahib are bent on soiling Bhai Ji’s sanctity.
(III) DIVALI AND HARMANDAR SAHIB. In what can be described as a senseless waste of
funds, money and energy sincerely contributed by Sikhs who look to the Harmandar Sahib as their
spiritual guidance, parbhandaks of this seat of holiness conduct, at virtually every Divali night an
ostentatious display of fireworks, deep mala, and distribution of sweets. To see Harmandar Sahib
(and other leading Gurdwara Sahib’s and Takhats – notably Patna Sahib and Damdama Sahib) take
part in a ritual so decidedly critiqued by the GGS, on an occasion so unrelated to Sikhi – is a clear
indication of the spiritual and moral corruption that has seeped into today’s Sikh spiritual
leadership.
No authority at Harmandar Sahib, Patna Sahib or Damdama Sahib has been able to justify their
Divali night extravaganza save to quote Pauree 6 Vaar 19 of Bhai Gurdas Ji, mention Bandee Chor
Divas and link to Bhai Mani Singh’s Shahidee – as discussed above. No one can authoritatively give a
time frame when this practice started. It certainly was not practiced during the Guru Sahib’s times
because there is no mention in the GSS. Such practice certainly did not happen during the 100 years
or so after the demise of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 1708 and defeat of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
– as the Sikhs – hunted as they were by the rulers of the day – were hiding out in the jungles as
guerillas. The Harmandar Sahib itself was destroyed many times over during this period to prevent
the Sikhs from even secretly visiting it to get spiritual strength. This period is replete with tales of
Sikhs challenging each other to go for a dip in the Sarowar (pool) of Harmandar Sahib. The
challenge was substantial as it involved the risk of getting caught and losing one’s life. The price of
the head of a Sikh was up to 80 rupees. It is thus difficult to believe that Sikhs would have
conducted a deep mala or any celebration every year on Divali under such circumstances during
these 100 years.
Yet it is highly likely that the divali related deep mala crept into Sikh Gurudwara Sahib’s sometime
during these 100 years of a tumultuous period. Since the Sikhs were fighting for survival in the
jungles of Punjab, the hills of Jammu and the deserts of Rajasthan, the Sikh Gurudwara Sahibs,
including the major historical sites were in the hands of Mahants, pseudo-sikhs, government backed
deviant Sikhs etc. By and large they were anti-Sikh and had their philosophies rooted in deviant
practices or Bhramanical beliefs. This is a period when Bhramanical rituals such as Lohree, Maghee,
Rakhree, Shraad, Sangrands, Maasiyas, Puranmashi, Karva Chauth, Dushera, Divali etc were brought into
and institutionalized as “Sikh” practices. One century was more than enough for these rituals –
even though tossed out by the GGS – to be rooted firmly in Sikh maryada (Gurudwara practice).
When Sikh Raj was established in 1801 – the Sikhs were no longer hunted, but their Gurudwara
Sahib’s continued to remain in the hands of the deviant Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s ministerial
portfolio for Sikh Religion was in the hands of the Dogra brothers who were Hindu converts from
Jammu and Kashmir. We now know that these brothers were on the pay roll of the British for the
purpose of destabilizing the Sikh Raj. These Dogra brothers sat as parbhandaks of Akaal Takhat,
sanctioning deviant practices and doling out huge sums of money and land to the deviant Mahants.
It is thus most likely that Divali related Deep Mala at Harmandar Sahib and other leading Sikh
Gurudwara Sahib’s was regularized during this period. When the British annexed the Sikh Raj,
these Mahants and controllers of Sikh Gurudwaras were supported by the new rulers for politically
expedient goals and actively allowed to carry on their activities. It was during the British rule (Guru
Nanak’s Nirangkari Gurpurab of 1942 ) that the first Akhand Paath of the Bachittar Natak Granth
(dubiously called Dasam Granth) was conducted at none other than the Akaal Takhat itself ! It
wasn’t until the Singh Sabha Movement of the early 20th Century that the historical Gurudwaras
were liberated and put under the control of SGPC. These Gurudwaras were physically liberated,
but Sikhs are still trying to liberate themselves from the deviant practices and rituals that were
rooted by their previous occupiers. At the same time, non-historical and local Gurudwaras contined
to remain in the hands of individuals and a host of deras have sprung up. The deras are run by a
sanitized version of the Mahants known as Sants. A good number of local Gurudwaras, including
diaspora gurudwaras are staffed by granthis who are the products of dera philosophies and sant
influences. It is in this context that the introduction and continuation of Divali deep mala (and other
Bhramanical rituals) at Harmandar Sahib (and other Gurudwara sahib’s) is perhaps best
understood.
(IV) UNDERSTANDING DIVALI. It now remains to explain Divali within the context of Indian
spirituality. Bramanism dictated the classification of Indian Hindu society into four main groups –
Brahmin, Khatri, Veshyas and Shudars. Dress, occupations, language and celebrations were allotted
accordingly to allow for distinctions to be made at the outset. The Brahmin thus celebrated Vesakhi
while the Khatris considered Dushera to be their main celebration, The Veshayas – because they were
the Bania or business class – were allotted Divali which is a celebration of Laxmi Puja (godess of
wealth). The Shudars – because they were lowest in the pecking order of castes – were deemed
satisfied to consider Holee as their main celebration whence forth they gathered to chuck colored
dust at each other in the name of guttural fun.
(i) The Philosophy. Divali is a shortened version of Deepavlee; meaning a festival of lamps. It is
fixed on the moonless (masia) night of the month of Kathak – a month associated with labour (as
opposed to Veskahi which is associated with reaping the benefits). By definition Kathak Masia falls at
the end of the “working month.” The day after Divali is known as Vishkarma Divas (literally: day of
no-labour – also name of a devta) and then next Dhan Chaundas (literally: day of wealth – also name
of a devta). Wealth will only arrive if the deity of wealth – Laxmi arrives on Divali night, and the
devotee is home waiting for her. So prior to Divali, devotees clean their homes, give it a new coat of
paint etc. On Divali night, they light up their homes, perform fireworks, and distribute sweets – in
anticipation of Laxmi’s arrival. The main door of the house is never closed on Divali night. Laxmi’s
photo is adorned with silver and gold decorations and Kesar and Ganesh are drawn in full color on
the walls / floors of the house. Many devotees gamble during Divali night hoping for wealth. Shivji
and his consort Parvati are commonly depicted as gambling during Divali night. The Ramayan
narrates a session of gamble between Ram and Sita on Divali night.
(ii) The History. Given that the civilization of India is 5,000 years old, a number of significant
events would have coincided with Divali. Of these the most significant is the return to Ayothya by
prince Ram Chander after having defeated rival king Ravan. This battle is depicted as the triumph
of good over evil. Divali night has therefore since witnessed fireworks and deep malas (to celebrate
victory) and the burning of effigies of the defeated Ravan.
(iii) CONCLUSION. It is fairly clear therefore that Divali is a celebration that holds deep
philosophical and historical significance to followers of the Hindu / Bramanical faith. And it is
equally clear that Divali has no significance whatsoever from the view point of Sikh philosophy,
Gurbanee, Gurmat and Sikh practice.
Sikhs, having lived in cosmopolitan Punjab from the days of Guru Nanak Sahib would have
undoubtedly shared the joy of Divali (and even the Muslim celebrations such as Eid) with their
neighbors and countrymen – without sharing the philosophical underpinnings of the event. The
same can be said of Sikhs outside of Punjab and India who live in mixed societies. It is thus likely
that Divali has been accepted from the social and cultural perspective by the Sikhs – in the name of
good inter-communal relations and ties. A good number of Sikhs living in western countries are
known to “celebrate” Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, – without ascribing to the religious
and spiritual connotations of these events – presumably within the spirit of good citizenship. As a
minority almost everywhere, Sikhs have perhaps better understood this principle than others. There
is nothing in Gurmat that prohibits a Sikh from sharing in the joys of his neighbours and
countrymen.
But attempts to provide Sikh philosophical and historical basis to Divali (and any other non-Sikh
celebrations) and endeavors to bring these functions to Gurdwaras are grossly misguided. Such
endeavors necessitate the distortion and manipulative interpretation of Gurbanee to provide basis
where none exists. They make a mockery of the rich Sikh tradition by implying a bankruptcy of
indigenous Sikh celebrations. Such attempts falsify Sikh history and rob our younger generations of
the chance to appreciate their own distinct identity. The spiritual esteem of the Harmandar Sahib
(and other sites) is undoubtedly affected amongst Gurmat and Gurbanee appreciating Sikhs over the
misguided and wasteful actions of these Gurdhaams to burn lamps and conduct fireworks on Divali
night. Above all, such actions lower the esteem of the Sikhs in the eye of our Guru Sahib’s as
indicated by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib : Jab Yeh Gahe Bipran Kee Reet, Mein Na Karoon En Kee Parteet.
The trust and faith (parteet) that the Guru Sahib placed in Sikhs may simply be lost in so doing.